Coaches named state advisors

Senior High’s Feddersen, Richardson and Adams to serve on state boards

November 19, 2012

Fort Dodge Senior High coaches Andi Adams and Jared Feddersen and instructor Mike Richardson have all been selected to serve as state-level advisors.

"For all these advisory boards, the state associations ask coaches, directors, to help formulate some regulations for the region, for each respective activity," Tom Kinseth, FDSH activities and athletics director, said. "They don't make the policy. They just try to give the board members some direction from the people who work day-to-day operations in the sport or activity."

Mike Richardson, FDSH band instructor, was elected North Central Iowa Bandmasters Association President for the 2012-2013 school year.

"Sitting on that board, his role is to just give insight through the eyes of a band director to the state association," Kinseth said. "Mike is a good choice. He works hard, and he's organized."

Richardson is in charge of organizing the yearly state marching band competition, which Fort Dodge has hosted for the last 10 years.

"He hit the ground running when (band instructor) Curtiss (Klein) retired. He had things organized for his own North Central marching band contest, which Fort Dodge hosts and we had quite a few bands come into that."

He added, "Mike and Curtiss started that a number of years ago. And that band festival has grown every year."

Richardson said he was honored by the position.

"It feels good to be recognized by your colleagues and be able to represent our band director's association," he said. "It feels good. I enjoy that position and being able to see things through different eyes, as far as how things are run at the state level. It's very rewarding for me."

Andi Adams, FDSH softball coach, has been selected to serve on the girls softball advisory board of the Girls High School Athletic Union.

"Andi is a respected coach in the state of Iowa," Kinseth said. "She lives and breathes softball. That's her focus, getting those girls to the state. Nobody works harder at her sport than Andi Adams."

Adams works tirelessly off- and in-season with her students, Kinseth said.

"She practices every day, where some coaches, they would just play the game," he said. "The girls love playing for her."

Being selected for the advisory board is an honor, Adams said.

"I felt very humbled and happy my colleagues chose me to be a part of the girls union board," she said. "It will be an interesting thing for me to be able to consult with coaches of all levels in different types of schools, districts, regarding softball and season requirements. It's a great honor."

Jared Feddersen, FDSH tennis coach, has been selected to serve on the boys tennis advisory board of the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Feddersen teaches at Humboldt High School, and is shared with Fort Dodge Senior High.

"He's a history teacher up in Humboldt. He'll use some personal days so he can get on the bus and drive to Ames or Des Moines with us," Kinseth said. "Jared does an excellent job with tennis. He's very knowledgeable about the sport."

Both Adams and Feddersen will benefit from the insights of "an array of coaches" from schools of different class levels, Kinseth said.

"They're going to get the perspective not only as a coach and an official, but as an athletic director," he said. "They're not just going to see the 2A perspective, but the 1A perspective. It's all on the table."